Having a relationship with God is just that: a relationship. And one thing that holds true in relationships is they require sacrifice. Dictionary.com describes sacrifice as, “to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.” The ultimate example of sacrifice is when Jesus Christ died so that everyone has the opportunity to accept Him in their lives and gain eternal life. But we often forget to hold up our end of the bargain. We want God to sacrifice, but we don’t want to.

I’ve grown up in and around the church, so I’ve heard Abraham’s story countless times. However, his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, his son who he didn’t have until he was 100 years old, still blows my mind. We disconnect ourselves from this story because it sounds like a far-off tale, but this man had to make a huge decision. He could either make a sacrifice for God or refuse to. Despite how outrageous the request may have seemed to sacrifice his own son, he trusted God and did what God asked. His willingness to sacrifice ultimately led to him being, “the father of many nations.”

The sacrifices you make for God, whether that’s staying away from those group of friends, a TV show, etc., that God says isn’t good for you, is a true testament of how close your relationship is with Him.

-Jas